My Top Ten Technology Resources for the Classroom

Storybird is a website where students can write a story and include pictures. Students can create a visual story in a short amount of time, and parents can buy the book the students create as 30% of the proceeds go directly to the teacher. Storybird is student centered as the students write and create the story. The SAMR level for this resource is Augmentation, and the 6 C's of 21st Century Learning this tool represents includes communication, creativity, and collaboration as students can work with peers to create a story. Lastly, the level of Bloom's Taxonomy Storybird represents is create. The students design, assemble, create, and develop an original story. A benefit is students get to use their creativity and imagination to write an online book. A barrier is students could get off task.

Book Creator is a fun and engaging tool where students can write and publish books online. Students can show their knowledge of lesson material and represent it in a story format that can be turned into an ebook and shared. Book Creator is both student and teacher centered. The students create and write a story/book to show what they learned, and the teachers can connect with the students and see their progress. The SAMR level this tool represents is redefinition, and the 6 C's of 21st Century Learning include collaboration, creativity, citizenship, character education, and communication. Lastly, the level of Bloom's Taxonomy this tool represents is create as students can use what they learned to create, develop, construct, and design a story/book. A benefit of this tool is that students use their creativity to write and publish an online book, and a barrier is students could spend too much time interacting with the site and get off task.

Bitmoji classroom is a fun, interactive, personalized, and functional way to interact with students as well as parents. The teacher can incorporate links on the objects in the virtual room to help with learning resources, weekly assignments, homework help, and so much more! This tool is both teacher and student centered. The teacher creates the virtual classroom to interact with the parents and students, and the students are the ones interacting with this resource. The SAMR level this tool represents is modification, and the 6 C's of 21st Century Learning used include communication and creativity. The level of Bloom's Taxonomy this tool represents is apply because the students can use the links and resources in the virtual classroom to apply what they have already learned in class to the linked activities. Some benefits include students can navigate this resource independently and spend time using the available learning resources to help them understand the information discussed in class. Some barriers include that they could get distracted and want to explore and not use the links as intended.

Nearpod is a learning resource that boosts student participation, has game based quizzes, assessments, polls, and virtual reality. Teachers can use this tool for a lesson and provides them with insights in real time as well as post session reports for each student. This tool is both student and teacher focused. Students are able to interact and respond to the multiple types of assessments and interactive activities throughout the lesson. Teachers create the interactive presentations and can include both formative and summative assessments. The SAMR level this tool represents is redefinition, and the 6 C's of 21st Century Learning used includes collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking. The level of Bloom's Taxonomy represented is understand as students discuss, collaborate, classify, describe, and identify material through the many interactive learning activities. Some benefits include that students are actively engaged in their learning and use their creativity. Some barriers include students could not interact and answer the questions.

Class Dojo is a technology tool that allows for effective communication, engagement, and remote learning. Teachers are able to add students as well as parents on the class site where teachers can give or take away points and mark attendance. This tool is teacher centered as teachers can communicate with parents as well as be in control of the Class Dojo account for the class. The SAMR level is redefinition as it is a creative way to interact and engage online. The 6 C’s of 21st Century Learning include communication and creativity. The level of Bloom’s Taxonomy this tool represents is evaluate as the teachers evaluate the students each day on attendance, behavior, participation, and other important factors. Some benefits include teachers can track attendance and student behaviors. A barrier could be language. If a parent does not speak English or English is not their first language, the parent may have trouble understanding the teacher's notes on their child.

Flipgrid is a free tool that allows for collaborative video discussions. This tool can be used for all ages, grade levels, and is a great way to engage with peers! This tool is both student and teacher centered. The students answer questions, collaborate, and can use their creativity for the assignments. Teachers can use this tool to get to know their students better as well as create the questions the students answer. The SAMR level for this tool is modification, and the 6 C’s of 21st Century Learning used is communication, collaboration, creativity, character education, and critical thinking. The level of Bloom’s Taxonomy this tool represents is apply. The students apply what they learned to answer the prompts of the video discussion. Some benefits include students being able to create a video and engage with their classmates. Some barriers include making sure the students are being appropriate as well as some students could get off task.

Kahoot is a free platform that allows teachers to create quizzes or choose from previously made quizzes for lessons or reviews. This tool is both student and teacher centered as teachers create the quizzes and the students review the lesson material in a fun way. The SAMR level is redefinition as students have the ability to create their own quizzes to show what they learned. The 6 C’s of 21st Century Learning this tool represents are creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and character education. The level of Bloom’s Taxonomy this tool represents is remember and apply. When students take the interactive quizzes, they have to recall from what they remember and learned to answer the questions. On the other hand, when the students create their own quizzes, they have to apply what they learned to create the questions and answers. Some benefits include this tool is interactive, engaging, fun, and boosts classroom participation. Some barriers include students could get too competitive.

Flocabulary is a learning program that uses hip hop music to engage the students and help them learn. This tool is student centered as the students can sing along with the videos, and it is an interactive way for them to learn. The SAMR level is augmentation, and the 6 C’s of 21st Century Learning represented include creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The level of Bloom’s Taxonomy this tool represents is remember as this resource helps students to remember vocabulary and information for lessons. Some benefits include that it is interactive, engaging, and a fun way for students to learn, and some barriers could include students getting off track with the lesson.

GooseChase is a web based scavenger hunt that provides for an interactive learning experience. Teachers can create the scavenger hunts and students solve the problems by taking pictures or videos along the way. This tool is both student and teacher centered as the students participate in the fun scavenger hunt to learn and the teachers create the scavenger hunt and incorporate learning objectives into the search. The SAMR level is redefinition, and the 6 C's of 21st Century Learning used include critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. The level of Bloom's Taxonomy this tool represents is apply and analyze. The students will apply what they learned to answer the questions during the scavenger hunt, and they analyze the information to find the items/objects. Some benefits include that it is engaging, interactive, fun, and fosters collaboration. Some barriers include that wifi is needed, and you can only record 15 seconds of a video.

Whiteboard.fi is an interactive online whiteboard that teachers can use in the classroom. You do not need an account to use this resource, and teachers can create new "classes" every time they want to use this resource. This tool is teacher centered as the teacher can check for each students understanding on the topic as well as keep track of who is participating in the activity. The SMAR level is Augmentation as the teacher is able to see what each student is doing in real time. The 6 C's of 21st Century Learning this tool represents is creativity, communication, and critical thinking. The level of Bloom's Taxonomy this tool represents is apply as students can apply what they learned to answer the questions and complete the whiteboard activity. Some benefits include this tool is free, interactive, engaging, is a type of formative assessment, and the teacher can see everyone's whiteboard in real time.